In April of this year, Gray, who is the daughter of Marshall Tucker Band founding member Doug Gray, had a scare. She immediately went to a doctor after she found a lump on her chest.

“I said 'This is strange.' I told my doctor about it. She said 'We will see you in six months,' but then I went back in a few weeks. (The doctor) said normally lumps and cysts only grow 2 millimeters in a year or two. Mine had grown six centimeters in less than a month.”

After a biopsy, Gray had to wait three to four days for the results.

“I was so nervous every day,” she said seated near Morgan Square in downtown Spartanburg on a recent Monday afternoon. “I couldn't eat or sleep or anything.”

After waiting nervously for results, the doctor finally called. The news was good. Doctors told Gray that the lump she had wasn't cancerous.

Gray had a fibroademona, a solid, noncancerous breast tumor that most often occurs in adolescent girls and women younger than 30, according to the Mayo Clinic. They do not affect a woman's risk for breast cancer, said Dr. Grant Warren, OB-GYN at Spartanburg Regional Health Care System.

“It was still scary,” Gray said. “I didn't think something like this would happen to me, but I think it's important for women to realize that it can happen to anyone.”

Warren said that while a suspicious lump might not be breast cancer, women of any age should get it checked out immediately if one appears.

“If you find out what it is sooner rather than later, you're either going to set your mind at ease or you're going to catch something really early, and it can be treated,” he said.

Gray, a senior at Converse College who is majoring in psychology, said doctors offered her the choice of having the lump removed, or keeping it. Gray said it was harmless and not uncomfortable, so she chose to not have surgery.

Gray does, however, go to the doctor once a year and has her breasts examined. She also talks to other women and classmates about her experience and how important it is to know what is happening, when it's happening.

Mariah's father, Doug, said he is proud of his daughter for being brave enough to talk about this issue, and for raising awareness among women.

“I get my picture made a lot, and I'm always being interviewed,” Doug said. “But this is about her. She wants to talk about this.”

Warren said women typically should not start getting regular mammograms until they are 40, unless breast cancer is prevalent in their family or a lump is found.

But all women should get their breasts examined annually by their OB-GYN.

<p>Mariah Gray offers words of wisdom and advice to her fellow students at Converse College, and to other women in Spartanburg.</p><p>“Take care of your body,” the 21-year-old said. “Be proactive about your health. It's very important.”</p><p>And if you find a lump, it might not necessarily mean breast cancer.</p><p>In April of this year, Gray, who is the daughter of Marshall Tucker Band founding member Doug Gray, had a scare. She immediately went to a doctor after she found a lump on her chest.</p><p>“I said 'This is strange.' I told my doctor about it. She said 'We will see you in six months,' but then I went back in a few weeks. (The doctor) said normally lumps and cysts only grow 2 millimeters in a year or two. Mine had grown six centimeters in less than a month.”</p><p>After a biopsy, Gray had to wait three to four days for the results.</p><p>“I was so nervous every day,” she said seated near Morgan Square in downtown Spartanburg on a recent Monday afternoon. “I couldn't eat or sleep or anything.”</p><p>After waiting nervously for results, the doctor finally called. The news was good. Doctors told Gray that the lump she had wasn't cancerous.</p><p>Gray had a fibroademona, a solid, noncancerous breast tumor that most often occurs in adolescent girls and women younger than 30, according to the Mayo Clinic. They do not affect a woman's risk for breast cancer, said Dr. Grant Warren, OB-GYN at Spartanburg Regional Health Care System.</p><p>“It was still scary,” Gray said. “I didn't think something like this would happen to me, but I think it's important for women to realize that it can happen to anyone.”</p><p>Warren said that while a suspicious lump might not be breast cancer, women of any age should get it checked out immediately if one appears.</p><p>“If you find out what it is sooner rather than later, you're either going to set your mind at ease or you're going to catch something really early, and it can be treated,” he said.</p><p>Gray, a senior at Converse College who is majoring in psychology, said doctors offered her the choice of having the lump removed, or keeping it. Gray said it was harmless and not uncomfortable, so she chose to not have surgery.</p><p>Gray does, however, go to the doctor once a year and has her breasts examined. She also talks to other women and classmates about her experience and how important it is to know what is happening, when it's happening.</p><p>Mariah's father, Doug, said he is proud of his daughter for being brave enough to talk about this issue, and for raising awareness among women.</p><p>“I get my picture made a lot, and I'm always being interviewed,” Doug said. “But this is about her. She wants to talk about this.”</p><p>Warren said women typically should not start getting regular mammograms until they are 40, unless breast cancer is prevalent in their family or a lump is found.</p><p>But all women should get their breasts examined annually by their OB-GYN.</p><p>“Know your breasts,” he said. “If something changes, get it checked out.”</p>